EANET was established in 2001 as an intergovernmental initiative focusing on creating a common understanding of the state of acid deposition problems in East Asia, providing useful inputs for decision-making at various levels, and promoting cooperation among 13 Participating Countries(PCs) countries in Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, including Malaysia. In 2021, EANET expanded its scope to cover broader air pollution issues and established a Project Fund mechanism to promote cooperation with other organizations outside of EANET.
EANET’s activities are guided by its five-year Medium-Term Plans and a Work Programme and Budget approved by the Participating Countries every year. In 2024, the Secretariat for the EANET is organizing national stakeholder awareness workshops to promote EANET, better understand specific country needs, support the implementation of projects, and develop more projects and activities to support the Participating Countries’ efforts to address acid deposition and air pollution.
The EANET National Stakeholder Awareness Workshop in Malaysia – Understanding Air Pollution and its Sources, Weather, Climate, and Topography in Malaysia, will be held in Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia, on 26 November 2024, from 9:00 to 12:30 (GMT+8), co-hosted by the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Malaysia, andalongside with EANET’s 26th Session of the Intergovernmental Meeting on the EANET, to be held on 27-28 November 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
.
2. Format:
The meeting will be held in a hybrid format: online via Zoom and at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, in Bangi, Malaysia.
Policymakers, experts, and development partners from across Southeast Asia gathered in Vientiane for a two-day Inter-ministerial Workshop to enhance regional cooperation on air pollution under the Clean Air for Sustainable ASEAN (CASA) Initiative. The event also served as EANET’s National Awareness Workshop for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
.
Lao PDR’s Ongoing Commitment to EANET
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic joined the EANET in 2002, shortly after the EANET’s inception as a formal intergovernmental initiative in January 2001. With its inclusion, EANET expanded to 13 Participating Countries, enabling Lao PDR to conduct harmonized acid deposition and atmospheric monitoring through the establishment of its first monitoring station in Vientiane and contribute its data as part of the EANET network. In May 2023, Vientiane hosted a national stakeholder workshop to celebrate two decades of EANET, raise awareness among Lao government agencies and NGOs, and discuss capacity-building in areas like QA/QC, ambient data analysis, and haze management. Recently, Lao PDR also participated in the EANET’s technical training activities including through support from the Network Center experts at the Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP) on wet-sampler maintenance, ion-chromatography guidance, and PM2.5 monitoring during technical missions in December 2023. The Inter-ministerial Workshop to Address Air Pollution allowed EANET to better understand the challenges faced by Lao PDR on air pollution and to strengthen relations between EANET and Lao PDR.
.
The Inter-ministerial Workshop to Address Air Pollution Through Regional Cooperation
Knowledge Exchange and Technology in Air Quality Management
The workshop focused on knowledge exchange on best practices in air quality monitoring, policy development, and the use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
It began with introductory presentations by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Natural Resources and Environment Research Institute) and by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Department of Agriculture Extension and Cooperative) of Lao PDR and continued with country presentations from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand on their progress and challenges in tackling air pollution. This was followed by interventions by United Nations representatives and regional partners including presentations by ESCAP, EANET Secretariat, and UNICEF. Session 5, entitled “Good Practices of How to Use Digital Technology for Air Pollution,” included presentations by the Korea Environmental Professional Engineers Association (KEPEA), the Center for Earth System Modeling and Prediction (CEMC) from the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), and the College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman. A roundtable discussion then explored how to enhance regional cooperation and align local and central actions for cleaner air.
On the second day, participants visited a CASA-supported Air Quality Monitoring Station in Vientiane to see real-time air quality data systems in action.
.
Priorities for Action: Data and Public Engagement
Through presentations, roundtable discussions, and the site visit, participants explored practical tools to address the region’s growing air pollution challenges. Two core priorities emerged from the discussions: enhancing technical capacity to leverage digital tools for synthesizing air quality data, and building communication strategies to improve the public access to information and raise awareness on air pollution issues.
.
These insights will inform future CASA activities and ESCAP programming, as well as the EANET discussions for the preparation of the draft Medium-Term Plan (2026–2030) on the EANET.
EANET was established in 2001 as an intergovernmental initiative focusing on creating a common understanding of the state of acid deposition problems in East Asia, providing useful inputs for decision-making at various levels, and promoting cooperation among 13 Participating Countries(PCs) countries in Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, including Lao People’s Democratic Republic. In 2021, EANET expanded its scope to cover broader air pollution issues and established a Project Fund mechanism to promote cooperation with other organizations outside of EANET.
EANET’s activities are guided by its five-year Medium-Term Plans and a Work Programme and Budget approved by the Participating Countries every year. In 2025, the Secretariat for the EANET is organizing national stakeholder awareness workshops to promote EANET, better understand specific country needs, support the implementation of projects, and develop more projects and activities to support the Participating Countries’ efforts to address acid deposition and air pollution.
EANET was established in 2001 as an intergovernmental initiative focusing on creating a common understanding of the state of acid deposition problems in East Asia, providing useful inputs for decision-making at various levels, and promoting cooperation among 13 Participating Countries(PCs) countries in Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, including Cambodia. In 2021, EANET expanded its scope to cover broader air pollution issues and established a Project Fund mechanism to promote cooperation with other organizations outside of EANET.
EANET’s activities are guided by its five-year Medium-Term Plans and a Work Programme and Budget approved by the Participating Countries every year. In 2024, the Secretariat for the EANET is organizing national stakeholder awareness workshops to promote EANET, better understand specific country needs, support the implementation of projects, and develop more projects and activities to support the Participating Countries’ efforts to address acid deposition and air pollution.
The EANET National Stakeholder Awareness Workshop in Cambodia – Understanding Air Pollution and its Sources, Weather, Climate, and Topography in Cambodia, will be held in Phnom Phen, Cambodia on 19 March 2024, from 13:30 to 16:40 (ICT), in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia and UNEP, back-to-back with UNEP’s Cambodia Clean Fuels and Vehicles Workshop, held on 18-19 March.
b.
2. Format:
The meeting will be held in person at the Hyatt Regency Phnom Phen, in Cambodia. Participation in the meeting is by invitation only.
EANET’s Initiatives for a Comprehensive Understanding of VOCs
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are components of air pollution that include a complex mixture of hundreds of carbon-containing gases. VOCs also include a wide variety of chemicals, some of which can cause short- and long-term adverse health effects. However, due to the unique characteristics of VOCs and the relatively high cost of measurement, VOCs monitoring and its related activities in the EANET region are still at an early stage. Since February 2023, the EANET has launched the “Feasibility for Promoting VOCs related Capacity Building in the EANET” project as part of the first batch of EANET Projects funded by the EANET Project Fund.
The EANET Workshop on Knowledge Sharing for VOCs Related Activities aimed at providing a complete understanding of VOCs related activities from the monitoring design to policy implementation, and to foster a comprehensive understanding and collaboration in the field of VOCs by bringing together experts, researchers, and practitioners in a multidisciplinary platform.
Mr. Yu Kamei, Director of the International Cooperation Office, Environment Management Bureau, Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ) and Engr. Marcelino N. Rivera Jr. OIC of the Environmental Quality Management Division of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Philippines, Central Office, on behalf of the EMB Director and concurrent Assistant Secretary Gilbert C. Gonzales, delivered opening remarks. Five presentations followed and covered VOC-related activities, from monitoring to emission control. Mr. Bert Fabian, Coordinator, Secretariat for the EANET moderated the Workshop.
.
Advancements in VOCs Monitoring and Emission Control Across East Asia
Dr. Yujiro Ichikawa, Researcher at the Atmospheric Environment Group, Center for Environmental Science in Saitama (CESS) Japan, presented ” Methods of Measuring Atmospheric VOCs and Case Study in Japan”. Afterwards, Dr. Toshimasa Ohara, Research Director, Center for Environmental Science in Saitama (CESS), the SAC member of Japan for the EANET, and Dr. Kessinee Unapumnuk, Director, Transboundary Air Pollution Sub-Division, Air Quality, and Noise Management Division, Pollution Control Department (PCD), Thailand, delivered presentations on “VOCs and secondary air pollution in East Asia” and “Establishment of Environmental Standards and Guideline Values of Volatile Organic Compounds in the Kingdom of Thailand”, respectively.
.
.
From the perspective of VOCs emission control, Mr. Junjie Tian, Engr., Shanghai Academy of Environmental Science, and Dr. Miao Feng, Director, Institute of Atmospheric Environment, Chengdu Academy of Environmental Science, delivered presentations on the “Prevention and Control of VOC pollution in Shanghai: progress, achievement and prospect” and “Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) emission control in Chengdu, China”. During their presentations, they introduced the Chinese local governments’ practices, the lessons learned, and the achievements made during the past decade.
.
.
Prof. Fan Meng, Deputy Director General of the NC for the EANET, Asia Center for Air Pollution Research (ACAP) delivered closing remarks. The session was marked by active discussions and exchange of information, including with online participants. The event exemplified EANET’s commitment to fostering a multidisciplinary platform for experts, researchers, and practitioners to collectively address the challenges of VOCs in air pollution.
The Working Group Meeting in 2023 (WG2023) on the EANET was held online on 22 and 23 August 2023. Over 50 representatives from the 13 EANET countries, the Secretariat and the Network Center for the EANET, participated in the meeting to discuss past activities, proposed projects for 2024, and important administrative matters.
.
Activities in 2022 and 2023: Collaborative Efforts for Better Air Quality in East and Southeast Asia
The completion of EANET projects in 2022 and ongoing activities in 2023 were presented during the WG2023 meeting. The Secretariat underscored its commitment to Core Activities from 2022 to July 2023. These included organizing the EANET major annual meetings, leading partnership and communication activities, and awareness sessions, such as the EANET Regional Awareness Workshop in Bangkok and National Awareness Workshops in Lao PDR and in the Philippines.
The Network Center highlighted activities spanning 2022 and 2023, including continued acid deposition and air quality monitoring, QA-QC and capacity building activities, and also Individual Training, the Emission Inventory Webinar Workshop, and the MICS-Asia Workshop. Notably, 2022 Projects were successfully completed, and eight Project Activities were launched in 2023. Among the 2023 projects was the VOC Advisory Group Meeting in Manila, a component of the broader Feasibility for Promoting VOCs’ Related Capacity Building in the EANET project.
Screenshot of some of the WG2023 participants
.
EANET Medium Term Plan Mid-Term Review’s Inception
The Mid-Term Review of the EANET Medium Term Plan (MTP) for 2021-2025 was introduced during the WG2023. The Secretariat and Evaluator leading the Review presented the Inception Report for the Mid-Term Review of the MTP. Participating Countries engaged in discussions, sharing their perspectives and suggestions on the Plan’s review.
.
Draft EANET Project Plans for 2024
EANET’s Project Plans for 2024, submitted to the EANET Project Fund, came into focus during WG2023. The Network Center and Secretariat jointly introduced 12 EANET Project Plans for the upcoming year, ranging from continuing initiatives to new proposals. These projects included diverse subjects such as atmospheric deposition effects on ecosystems, VOC-related capacity building, air quality monitoring network development, and more. Participating Countries discussed potential overlaps, funding optimization, and suggestions to strengthen project proposals. Encouragement for external partnerships was highlighted.
.
Modifications to EANET Project Fund and Project Guideline and Administrative and Financial Management Guideline
WG2023 included discussions on modifications to the EANET Project Fund and Project Guideline, and on revising the Guidelines on Administrative and Financial Management for the Secretariat and Network Center. The Secretariat presented the current Guidelines against proposed changes submitted by Participating Countries at the Online Meeting on the Revision of the Guidelines. Participating Countries engaged in extensive discussions to refine definitions and procedures.
After the WG2023, the Secretariat and Network Center will prepare a new draft of both Guidelines, integrating proposed changes from discussions, for further review by Participating Countries’ National Focal Points, and including review from UNEP and ACAP, hosts of the Secretariat and the Network Center for the EANET.
The revised Guidelines, along with the EANET Project Proposal, and the Mid-Term Review of the EANET MTP, will be further discussed at the Twenty-Third Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC23) online Meeting to be held in October 2023, and during the 25th Intergovernmental Meeting (IG25) on the EANET in November 2023, in Hanoi, Viet Nam.
The EANET Regional Awareness Workshop in 2023 focused on the growing concerns surrounding Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and the use of Low-Cost Sensors (LCS) for air quality monitoring in Northeast and Southeast Asia. Held on 30 May 2023 at the United Nations Convention Center and online, it aimed to foster collaboration on air quality management, address global challenges related to VOC pollution, and discuss the potential of LCS technology. The Workshop was held as part of the Climate and Clean Air Conference: Air Quality Action Week, organized by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), and in cooperation with the Asian Institute of Technology, Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RRC.AP). 129 participants from 15 countries joined the Workshop.
.
Enhancing Air Quality Monitoring and Collaboration in East and Southeast Asia
Ms. Marlene Nilsson, Deputy Regional Director of UNEP Asia Pacific office, opened the EANET Awareness Workshop by delivering remarks highlighting the importance of alliances such as EANET to build regional solutions through data sharing and collaboration.
.
Volatile Organic Compounds Pollution Challenges and Air Quality Regulations in Asia
The first Session focused on the importance and challenges of VOC measurement in East and Southeast Asia. Presenters and panelists included Prof. Meng Fan, DDG for EANET, Asia Center for Air Pollution (ACAP), Dr. Meihua Zhu, Senior Researcher, Asia Center for Air Pollution (ACAP), Prof. Hong Li, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES), China, Dr. Kessinee Unapumnak, Pollution Control Department (PCD), Thailand and Mr. Jundy T. Del Socorro, Environment Management Bureau (EMB), The Philippines.
.
View the recording of Dr. Kessinee Unapumnak’s presentation on Thailand’s Air Quality Management Framework
.
VOCs have emerged as a significant pollutant in Asia, posing challenges due to rising levels and diverse emission sources and chemical compositions. While Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Thailand have ambient VOC standards, other countries do not have such standards or guidelines. This is why the project Promoting VOCs related Capacity Building in the EANET, supported by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ) has been developed and launched in 2023, through the EANET Project Fund. Planned to last three years, the project is the fruit of cooperation between the MOEJ, the Network Center for the EANET, and different government and research institutes from China, Japan, Mongolia, and the Philippines, also including experts from the Republic of Korea and Thailand.
.
Low-Cost Sensor Technology for Air Quality Monitoring: Integration Efforts and Need for Reliability
The second Session focused on Low-Cost Sensors’ (LCS) Role in Air Quality Management in East and Southeast Asia. Presenters and panelists included Dr. Akie Yuba, Researcher, Asia Center for Air Pollution (ACAP), Prof. Kim Oanh, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Dr. Le Ngoc Cau, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change (IMHEN), Viet Nam, Ms. Dang Espita-Casanova, Clean Air Asia, and Ms. Karine Léger, Airparif, France.
.
View the recording of Ms. Dang Espita-Casanova’s presentation on Hybrid air quality monitoring: Achieving air quality goals in Philippine Cities
.
Discussions highlighted the potential and limitations of Low-cost sensor (LCS) technology. LCS is a portable and relatively cheaper monitoring system used for air quality monitoring, but challenges remain regarding data accuracy, calibration, and maintenance. LCS data can be valuable for non-regulatory monitoring applications and are powerful awareness-raising tools for citizen science. Efforts are being made to integrate LCS with reference-level sensors through projects like the EANET’s Hybrid Air Quality Monitoring Network (HAQMN) in Asia, in Viet Nam specifically, and guidelines are being developed to replicate this integration in other countries. LCS deployments have been conducted in the Philippines to fill coverage gaps, requiring local calibration and integration with conventional sensors. LCS are seen as complementary to traditional sensors, providing better coverage and valuable data for policymakers. Standardization, calibration, and integration need further attention to ensure the reliability of LCS for various purposes.
.
Key Recommendations
The workshop panelists discussed several key recommendations. Firstly, they suggested conducting research to establish VOC Air Quality Guideline Values and Standards by monitoring, reporting, and analyzing emission sources. Secondly, they emphasized the need to strengthen research on VOCs’ impact on air quality and human health. Additionally, they proposed developing guidelines, standards, and policies for the use of LCS (low-cost sensors) and promoting research on calibration, correction factors, and quality assurance to ensure reliable LCS data. They also recommended creating guidelines for integrating LCS with existing monitoring networks to ensure data reliability. Lastly, they highlighted the importance of establishing regional and international platforms for sharing knowledge and best practices related to LCS.
Dr. Shiro Hatakeyama, DG, Asia Center for Air Pollution (ACAP) delivered the Closing Remarks and emphasized the importance of VOC monitoring, VOCs being the precursors of ozone and particulate matter. He highlighted the importance to expand the EANET’s monitoring network to include VOCs and mentioned LCS could be considered for this expansion if their reliability can be strengthened.
.
Useful Resources
Read a more detailed summary of the Workshop’s content in the EANET Awareness Workshop in 2023 Event Report.
View all Workshop’s recordings on the Secretariat for the EANET’s YouTube channel and the Workshop’s photos on Flickr.
The National Stakeholder Awareness Workshop in the Philippines on EANET: Promoting acid deposition and air quality management in East Asia was held in Manila, on 26 May 2023, in cooperation with the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippines, and the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM), University of the Philippines. It aimed at showcasing the achievements and activities of the EANET over the last 20 years, including activities involving the Philippines and encouraging cooperation between EANET and Philippine stakeholders in the implementation of the expanded scope and the EANET Project Fund activities. The Workshop was held at the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, College of Science, University of the Philippines-Diliman, and gathered around 70 participants.
The stakeholder Workshop was organized back-to-back with the Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Project Advisory Group Meeting in Manilla, as part of the EANET VOC Project in 2023.
.
Promoting Acid Deposition and Air Quality Management for over 20 Years
Bert Fabian, Coordinator of the Secretariat for the EANET welcomed the participants and thanked the EMB-DENR and UP-IESM for their cooperation and support. He explained EANET’s expansion of scope to cover more projects and activities on air pollution. He encouraged participants and stakeholders to do more research and activities on acid deposition and air pollution and promote partnerships and collaboration.
Presentations were delivered by Prof. Meng Fan, from the Asia Center for Air Pollution (ACAP) and Network Center for the EANET, Mr. Sammy Aytona from the Environment Management Bureau Philippines (EMB), Mr. Chadbert Aquino, from EMB, and Ms. Everlyn Gayle Tamayo from Clean Air Asia.
Prof. Fan Meng presented EANET’s findings over 20 years, noting improvements in Sulfur dioxide-related air pollution in Northeast Asia but stressing the need to address particulate matter in Southeast Asia. Persistent high levels of nitrogen oxides and ozone pollution were also discussed, highlighting the importance of expanding monitoring for effective air quality monitoring and assessment. EANET is supporting such efforts as part of its individual training program primarily for government officials in the EANET countries and showcasing the network’s commitment to capacity building.
Mr. Aytona presented acid deposition monitoring activities in the Philippines, including plans to enhance monitoring and raise awareness about EANET activities. Mr. Aquino emphasized the challenges and opportunities in Philippine air quality management, emphasizing comprehensive strategies and stakeholder collaboration.
Ms. Tamayo highlighted the significance of monitoring, emissions inventory, modeling, and health impact assessment, and introduced decision-making resources. Collaboration among government, industries, academia, and civil society was emphasized for effective air quality management.
.
National Stakeholders’ Awareness Workshop in the Philippines on EANET in 2023 in-person participants.
.
Panel Discussion: Interventions from EANET Experts on Air Quality Monitoring Challenges and Implications for the Philippines
Professor Hong Li (CRAES, China) emphasized setting clear goals, developing a long-term plan, and establishing strong coordination and robust emissions inventory at the local level. She suggested implementing a 10-point policy framework and continuously updating standards and intervention measures.
Dr. Toshimasa Ohara (CESS, Japan) showcased Japan’s success in mitigating air pollution while maintaining economic growth. He highlighted the reduction of bio emissions but emphasized the challenge of addressing chemical ozone. He expressed hope for EANET’s role in addressing air quality problems in the Philippines.
Dr. Kessinee Unapumnak (PCD, Thailand) presented Thailand’s Air Quality Management Framework and shared activities such as area-based management, sectoral approach, public relations management, and increasing public awareness. She emphasized the importance of inter-ministerial cooperation and effective policy implementation.
Professor Gangwoong Lee (HUFS, Republic of Korea) emphasized the potential contribution of citizens in reducing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). He praised the Philippines’ efforts in monitoring PM2.5 and VOCs and encouraged the country to persist in its air quality improvement endeavors.
The EANET workshop concluded with experts emphasizing the importance of clear goals, long-term planning, and strong coordination in air quality management. They highlighted the need for continuous updates of regulations, citizen involvement, and evidence-based policies. Dr. Shiro Hatakeyma, Director General of ACAP, delivered the closing remarks.
The EANET Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Project Advisory Group Meeting was held in Manila from 24-26 May 2023 including laboratory and VOC monitoring site surveys, resulting in finalizing activities in the Philippines and Mongolia and other recommendations for the VOC project’s progress.
.
The VOC Project Advisory Group Meeting
The Network Center for the EANET, organized the EANET VOC Advisory Group Meeting in Manila, Philippines, as part of the EANET « Project for the feasibility for promotion of VOCs related capacity building in EANET » Project Activity in 2023.
The first meeting for the project took place in February 2023. As part of this project, it was decided to create an Advisory Group, composed of experts from Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, Thailand, and from the Network Center, to give guidance on feasible measurement methods, data analysis, identification of the target species to measure VOCs, and feasible reduction measures. During the meeting, the Advisory Group members considered methods like DOAS (Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy), canister sampling, sorbent tubes, and passive samplers. They emphasized the importance of source identification and reducing toxic VOCs, and discussed the use of low-cost sensors.
.
Participants to the EANET VOC Advisory Group Meeting with the representatives of the Government of the Philippines (EMB-DENR)
.
Lab Survey, VOC Monitoring Site Visit, and Stakeholder Workshop
A laboratory survey was conducted at the Environmental Research and Laboratory Services Division (ERLSD), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), and the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM), College of Science, University of the Philippines. On the following day, the mission continued with a VOC monitoring site survey at the Region III Air Quality Management Section (AQMS) in Pampanga. This survey aimed to assess the monitoring of volatile organic compounds in that specific area. The next morning, a summary discussion and bilateral meeting took place between the Philippine representatives, the Network Center, and Secretariat for the EANET. This meeting provided an opportunity to share their findings, insights, and recommendations. Finally, on the afternoon of 26 May, the National Stakeholder Awareness Workshop: Promoting acid deposition and air quality management in East Asia was held to address air quality management challenges and explore potential solutions tailored to the specific context of the Philippines.
.
Site visit in Pampanga, Region III
.
VOC Advisory Group Recommendations and Highlights
The VOC project Advisory group meeting involved thirty-six participants and facilitated in-depth information exchanges and discussions among project stakeholders and advisory group members. Recommendations for the project plan were compiled based on the insights gained from the laboratory and monitoring assessments during the mission.
The Advisory Group emphasized that the final goal of the project is to reduce Ozone and PM2.5 pollution. For this purpose, understanding the status of VOCs and exploring the best solutions for their reduction is key. The Advisory Group discussed VOCs measurement methodologies and a methodology for estimating Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA) contribution and source apportionment of VOCs.
Among their recommendations, the Advisory group considered prioritizing monitoring of BTX (Benzene, Toluene, Xylene) in the Philippines and Mongolia. Methods such as Canister/Gas Chromatography/Flame Ionization Detection/Mass Spectrometry (GC/FID/MS) and Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) were recommended to be compared. Sampling should be conducted for 24 hours over two weeks at various locations. Capacity building for Volatile Organic Compounds monitoring was considered crucial. Re-establishing Canister/Sorbent Tube-GC/FID/MS methods (TO14/14a/15/15a) in the lab is recommended. Training, consumables, and support for monitoring and analysis were considered important. Developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for VOCs monitoring and formulating air quality guidelines are the key objectives.
.
The mission in the Philippines received financial contributions from the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ) and significant in-kind contributions from the Philippines, for which the organizers expressed their appreciation.
.
The VOC project has been funded by The Ministry of Environment, Japan (MOEJ), through the EANET Project Fund.
The National Stakeholder Awareness Workshop in Lao PDR on EANET: Promoting acid deposition and air quality management in East Asia was held in Vientiane, on 2 May 2023, in cooperation with the Natural Resource and Environment Research Institute (NRERI), Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment (MoNRE), Lao PDR. It aimed at showcasing the achievements and activities of the EANET over the last 20 years and encouraging cooperation between EANET and Lao stakeholders in the implementation of the EANET’s expanded scope and Project Fund activities. The Workshop was held at the NRERI, and gathered about 45 participants from government agencies, academic institutions, and NGOs. It was co-chaired by Mr. Lonkham Atsanavong, Director General of the NRERI, MoNRE, and Mr. Bert Fabian, Coordinator of the Secretariat for the EANET.
.
Strengthening Acid Deposition and Air Quality Management in Lao PDR
The National Stakeholder Awareness Workshop in Lao PDR on EANET was inaugurated by the Opening Remarks of Mr. Lonkham Atsanavong and the introduction to the Workshop’s objectives by Mr. Bert Fabian. These were followed by presentations by Dr. Keiichi Sato, Head of Atmospheric Research Department, Asian Center for Air Pollution (ACAP), Network Center of the EANET; Mr. Vanhna Phanphongsa, Deputy Director, Environmental Laboratory, MoNRE, Lao PDR; and Ms. Bounmany Soulideth, Deputy Head of Division, MoNRE, Lao PDR and current Head of the ASEAN Technical Working Group on Transboundary Haze Pollution.
Dr. Keiichi Sato presented the overall progress of air quality monitoring activities in the EANET region over the past two decades, specifically focusing on the dissemination of monitoring data, capacity building, and regional cooperation, within the framework of the EANET. Mr. Vanha and Ms. Bounmany presented the status of acid deposition monitoring and air quality management in Lao PDR as well as the transboundary haze pollution and general air quality issues in Lao PDR.
In his presentation, Mr. Vanha highlighted interest in Laos for future collaboration on capacity building activities, specifically related to supporting maintenance, Ion Chromatography (IC) instrument & air quality monitoring stations QA/QC, training on PM2.5/ PM10 monitoring, ambient air quality monitoring, atmospheric data analysis, ambient air data mapping, emission inventory tools, and air quality modeling.
.
National Stakeholders’ Awareness Workshop in Lao PDR on EANET in-person participants
.
Air Quality Management Collaborative Efforts and Awareness Initiatives in Lao PDR
The objective of the panel discussion on Strengthening Acid Deposition and Air Quality Management in Lao PDR was to offer a forum to share information on air quality management and haze pollution. Representatives from government agencies NGOs, and other development institutions participated actively in the panel discussion and shared their thoughts on the air pollution issues in the country.
The alarming increase in the heat index in Lao PDR and in the region in April 2023, combined with wildfires and high air pollution, has led to a collective agreement to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of air pollution. The government of Laos is taking various measures to address air pollution and raise public awareness about its impacts, including conducting public awareness activities led by the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment and collaborating with relevant sectors to prevent air pollution from the agricultural sector. The National University of Laos (NUOL) has also introduced a supplementary curriculum on air pollution and air quality control.
The collaboration between the government and local communities was emphasized, involving engagement with local authorities and residents in educational programs. In the agricultural sector, the cassava farming practice is becoming a significant concern, leading to nutrient degradation in the soil and farmers resorting to clearing more land. Facing this issue, support is being provided to community-managed areas for sustainable crop preparation, discouraging the shifting of cultivation sites and promoting the use of plant residues to reduce burning.
Local government entities are also encouraged to collaborate with research institutes and other sectors to manage and prevent air pollution. The World Bank, in partnership with the NRERI, is developing an environmental and waste management project, aiming to enhance communication and access to educational resources through the development of online platforms including a mobile application, for public air quality monitoring.
The National Awareness Workshop participants highlighted the status of air quality monitoring stations, identified major sources of air pollution, and emphasized the importance of capacity building and international cooperation in addressing the transboundary haze issue. While efforts are made to improve the air quality assessment, these need to be further strengthened. Collaboration among various local and international stakeholders is key to addressing the air quality issue in Lao PDR.
